Sidney-based outdoor outfitter Cabela’s says its annual shareholders meeting in June will mark the long-planned transition of  co-founder and chairman Dick Cabela to chairman emeritus with vice-chairman, younger brother and co-founder Jim Cabela moving up to chairman.

Jim Cabela has helped oversee Cabela’s growth into a well-known outdoor brand that sells gear through catalogs, its website and retail stores.

Cabela’s CEO Tommy Millner calls Dick Cabela “a legend” who started the company on his kitchen table in 1961, pioneered direct catalog marketing and experiential marketing, revolutionized every aspect of outdoor product sales, and transformed Cabela’s to a $3.1 billion globally recognized brand.”

Millner says he looks forward to “continuing to learn from Dick’s wise counsel and advice in his new role as Chairman Emeritus,” but is quick to add that Jim Cabela’s leadership has been “a powerful force” in building the company for 5 decades and will ensure that it remains focused during an exciting growth period.

Cabela’s currently has 40 stores across the United States and Canada, but has 12 more scheduled to open in the next two years…including several this summer.